Verendrye Electric is a distribution cooperative that purchases wholesale power from Central Power Electric Cooperative of Minot. Central Power doesn't generate its own power; it serves as an intermediary to Verendrye and five other cooperatives.
Central Power buys 90 percent of its power from Basin Electric Power Cooperative and 10 percent from the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a federal power marketing agency that supplies hydropower from the Garrison Dam. Because VEC is a member of Central Power and Basin Electric, it is also a part owner of their facilities.
Basin Electric, which serves 140 distribution cooperatives in nine states, uses a variety of energy sources for generating electricity. Basin’s energy portfolio has become increasingly more diverse with wind, solar and natural gas taking more of the share over the past few years as seen on the following charts.
